*Miracles*

So the next week was daily morning ultrasounds to see how the eggs were doing.  Before retrieval the Doctor likes to see at least one egg at 18 mm.  I was starting to feel so super full that week.  I seriously felt like I was walking around with a huge vine of grapes hanging on each of my hips and at any moment they were going to start popping outta my skin.  It was tender and had a lot of pressure.  I had got to the point where we had one that was at 17 mm and there was 12 eggs on one side and 10-11 on the other.  See, most women make one egg a month and here I was carrying around about two years worth!  So finally we got to where we needed to be and the egg retrieval was going to be that Saturday.  Thursday night I was to take an hCG shot at exactly 11 p.m and the next morning was an hCG pregnancy test.  The timing of the shot is crucial.  HCG is a hormone that does a couple of things.  For this instance, the hormone would be telling my ovaries to release the eggs.  So Saturday morning when I went in, they would be at the right spot to be able to retrieve.  We cannot retrieve eggs that are not mature enough nor can we retrieve old eggs.  So this is why the timing of the shot is critical. So I did the shot and the next morning the test showed positive meaning that it had done what it was supposed to and my balloons had been released :)



I found a couple of things super interesting.  I was to fast 12 hours before and go to the appt with no make-up or contacts.  The night before the anesthesiologist called me to let me know of everything that would be going on and did give me the OK to brush my teeth, as long as I promised not to swallow. LOL. He said that some people get desperate.  I guess that makeup can cause certain reactions to medications, but most importantly it was so that they could monitor my color and such while I was put out.  Once we got there I kissed and said goodbye to my husband and went back to the room.  The anesthesiologist did wonderful and not long after receiving the medications I was out.  I was actually, surprisingly super comfortable.  The thingy's they had for me to rest my legs on were all wool covered and made it easy for me to relax.  The procedure in short is quite simple.  A needle is placed on the tip of the ultrasound probe and inserted vaginally.  The Dr then through ultrasound locates the ovaries to find the follicles.  Each follicle is punctured and the fluid is gently sucked out.  The fluid is then taken by an embryologist who evaluates the fluid and locates the egg.  The egg is taken from the fluid and placed in a dish where later they will do the ICSI (insert the sperm).

I remember waking up at the end of the procedure and hearing the MA ask if she was good to go for the day. When the nurse told her yes I asked her if she would bring back some Taco Bell lol. After a minute I thought, "Did I really just ask that? You stupid..." I was then stood up, covered, and like a puppet, walked through a door to a recovery room. There I slept the anesthesia off and my husband came in to wait with me. The Dr came in and told us that everything went great. They were able to retrieve... 24 eggs! Twenty Four! Whoa! I was carrying 2 years worth of eggs around, you know, no big deal! This was a great number. So he said that once I was ready we could leave and that on Monday we would receive a call letting us know how the eggs were doing. After the ICSI they would sit and harvest. When we did the transfer depended on a few things, such as how the eggs were doing. On Monday if the zygotes (what the fertilized eggs are called) are doing really well and are healthy and strong, then we will let them go another day or two. But if they aren't very strong then we will go ahead and transfer that day or the next because they are better off inside my warm cozy inn. So we would anxiously wait for Monday. After we left the clinic we went to Bailey's brothers house where I was able to sleep for a bit. Once awake I waddled to the bathroom where I got super sick, lightheaded and dizzy, to the point where I just melted to the ground hoping that the cool tile would cool me down and make this go away. I was somewhat prepared for this, as I have learned that I never do well when the anesthesia wears off. This lasted about five minutes and by then I was starving. I had not eaten yet. I needed something light so Bai went and got me an Olive Garden salad which tasted absolutely amazing. We had planned a dinner with my aunt and her family and so we headed over to her house. While there my belly started to really hurt and I was unable to walk standing straight up. I just walked around hunched over, trying not to stretch any muscles making them pull on any of my organs. After dinner we made the ride home which was 3 1/2 hours.... and it was absolutely terrible. Each bump or turn or anything that moved me hurt like the dickens. I couldn't sleep because of the pain and could not find one position that brought comfort. We finally made it home and I was able to sleep. The next day I was feeling pretty good (but also looking about 3 months pregnant) and was able to get some things done around the house and run some errands. The next day I was right back to the killer pain. I woke up in tears because I was unable to move without intense shocks sent all up and down the sides of my abdomen and I was also unable to take a deep breath without having any pain. I called the clinic and my IVF Coordinator told me to stay down, rest and drink lots and lots of Gatorade. I was also told that I could take extra strength Tylenol to help with the pain, and that all of this was normal. It certainly didn't feel normal. Especially when the anesthesiologist told me that I would be right back up and back to normal the next day. So here I am, unable to move or walk, husband is at work, and it's a Sunday. Thank goodness for such wonderful and great ward members! My mom was able to make the 5 hour drive (bless her dear sweet heart) and come take care of me. I was so grateful for her help. I was able to stay in bed as she brought me food and anything else I needed. The next morning I woke up feeling better, but still looking huge. We received our Monday call and were told that ALL 24 eggs had indeed fertilized! Ah haha! So so awesome right! The embryologist said it was looking fantastic and that we were dealing with some big numbers here. They would continue to watch them and let us know on Wednesday what they were looking like. We received the call and were told that they were all still harvesting. There were 19 that were still healthy and strong and multiplying wonderfully, doing just what they are supposed to. There were 4 that were doing well but were a little slower than the 19. She told us that our numbers were amazing and unusual. So they would continue to watch them and we would do the transfer on Friday. Friday they would show us how many would be strong enough to freeze. This process is called cryopreservation. The zygotes will have to reach the blastocyst stage to be able to be frozen and we will then be able to use them another time. So I spent the next couple days pretty much sleeping and staying down as I was so exhuasted and tired. During this time I had done some googling, researching for anything that might be causing this craziness. I looked up "pain after egg retrieval and found what is called Ovarian Hyperstimulating Syndrome or OHSS. When the ovaries are stimulated to produce A LOT they tend to continue to hyperstimulate. Also, after an egg retrieval, the empty follicle is left behind and can fill back up with fluid, also causing the ovaries to continue to hyperstimulate. So in my case I was left with 24 empty follicles. The OHSS cases are generally mild and last about a week. The hCG, which causes hyperstimuation of the ovaries is what causes the OHSS, so I just needed to wait for it to clear my system. Friday finally came and I was very concerned about what was going on with my body and the transfer. I had read a ladies blog who had a severe case of OHSS and said that she regretted not waiting to do the transfer at a later time. I really wanted to get pregnant NOW. The Dr came in and had a look and said I definitely was looking 15 weeks pregnant. He told us that it was our decision if we wanted to go ahead with the transfer. He said that this was the worst of it and it would be dying down. But IF I was to get pregnant, then my body will produce it's own hCG hormone. This is what tells the ovaries to NOT shed the lining, but instead to produce hormones to thicken the lining to house whatever it was (a baby) that was growing in there. The Dr felt like I was experiencing a moderate case of OHSS and that I was getting through the worst of it. So we went ahead with the transfer. We then learned that I think 4 or 5 of the zygotes were already to the blastocyst stage and so we had those for sure. They would wait just a little longer to see if any others would reach that stage. We then discussed if we felt like one or two should be transferred. We decided on one as two could cause complications not only to me but also the babies. I was told that I had too small of a frame to attempt having twins. Let me tell you, at this time I was feeling very opposite of "small framed." But the Dr really felt like one was the best and wisest option. I was then laid back (I had previously been given some Valium to cover any pain) and the procedure was started. Bailey was able to be in the room with me at this time. We were able to experience the beautiful process together. A lady came in with a tiny tube and said to Doc "one baby Pulsipher" and we then watched the tube go in and fluid released. Because the blastocyst is naked to the eye, there was an air bubble at the top and one at the bottom, so that we knew our lil baby was somewhere in there. We were then given a picture of that ultrasound. 

 This was a very sacred experience. It was quiet and we were able to watch one of the most amazing Godly powers take place. We watched this tiny little miracle that we couldn't even see, that had been made from both Bailey and I in a LAB, be inserted into my body, where we hoped it would live and grow for the next 9 months. I was now carrying a little baby, made from both of us! We were given a picture of all of our other zygotes and in the end were able to have 6 frozen. What a beautiful blessing. We were told that most people have half of what we had and in the end they sometimes don't have any that are strong enough to freeze. My heart has been so very humbled and overflowing. We have six other little blastocysts that we can use later on. This created so many feelings within me. I felt that it was as if Bailey and I were truly meant to be and I knew that the feelings I had had all along, about everything working out, were from above. Both Bailey and I were blessed with more than enough to make things work, so that we could hopefully have one of our very own children. Words will never express this incredible experience, but oh how grateful I am to have witnessed it.


So now it was time for what they called "Princess Days." I was to go home and was pretty much bed rest for the next two days. There my Momma picked me up and I kissed and hugged the best man in the world and said goodbye. My mom would be taking care of me as I housed and took great care of this little baby for the next couple of days.